Hi,

Just joined up after viewing your site for ages before buying a new 74 plate Karoq Sportline petrol manual.

Yes - I've experienced the low speed stalling!!, and been stranded trying to turn right at a busy crossroads - scary

Currently running on Shell V-power - seems to run smoother and not so many cut outs

Changed 19" wheels for 17" Ratikons shod with Continental All Season 2's - much better ride over the terrible roads in Southampton

Oh and found the pedals too high so created a false floor - I'm a lot happier now.

Cheers for now

Hopefully it wasn't on the Avenue by Boldrewood!

Hi

No - it was the crossroads by Machine Mart in Portswood during rush hour.

My wife was with me, and she promptly told me what she thought of the car and my driving !

2 hours ago, SaintViking said:

Hi

No - it was the crossroads by Machine Mart in Portswood during rush hour.

My wife was with me, and she promptly told me what she thought of the car and my driving !

The one off Thomas Lewis Way? That junction is traffic light controlled last I used it in March. Did others not allow you to join traffic? That would be normal IME. Lots of impatient gits in Southampton.

I was in Portswood Road, trying to turn right by Machine Mart to get onto Thomas Lewis Way, when the engine just cut out (rev counter just dived to 500 rpm, I put my foot down and the engine died - not for the first time), and then the lights changed

It left me stranded with cars driving around me beeping horns etc

Happy days !!

On 08/05/2025 at 00:27, SaintViking said:

I was in Portswood Road, trying to turn right by Machine Mart to get onto Thomas Lewis Way, when the engine just cut out (rev counter just dived to 500 rpm, I put my foot down and the engine died - not for the first time), and then the lights changed

It left me stranded with cars driving around me beeping horns etc

Happy days !!

Ah it's always backed up there now. It ends up blocking Thomas Lewis Way, which is busier than ever thanks to the 20mph.

Don't start me on the "Busgate" traffic control going through Portswood !!

Back to OP's first message about the pedals being too high, as I've noted a few times before, my main issue with the pedals is there's no place to rest your right foot, when using the cruise control, and particularly ACC in my case (which I love) (DSG car). I frequently find myself driving for considerable periods of time on motorways without touching the throttle and tuck my foot partially under the pedals, which is not ideal.

The VW T-Roc has it sorted, with the pedals slightly more to the left (actually more central with respect to steering) and a foot rest to the right of the throttle on the wheel arch. I keep wondering whether to have the pedals altered (possibly lowered a bit too), but I've put up with it for almost 6 years now.

As I'm a vertically challenged gent at 5' 6", when cruise control is on, I find I can put my right leg at approx 90 deg and rest my foot on my false floor, between the seat and the pedals.

Like croquemonsieur I do a lot of motorway mileage, and this seems to work for me.

My wife's Golf SV does have a foot rest to the right, which is useful.

Perhaps Skoda designers could have a water cooler chat with VW

On 11/05/2025 at 23:02, SaintViking said:

Don't start me on the "Busgate" traffic control going through Portswood !!

Well, that's being scrapped it seems!

The Octavia seems to be the first car that fits me well. I am 6 1", but my height comes from my torso. In other words, to have the seat set at the right distance from the steering wheel, my feet are usually stretched to reach the pedals. The Octavia seems a perfect fit.

I had a courtesy Golf with the dead pedal on the right side too. I liked it, but none of my cars have ever had it. I usually just plonk both feet on the floor, perhaps slightly under my seat. It's not ideal, but it's better than putting them underneath the pedals like I did in my Leon. My previous car to the Leon (A3) had the accelerator hinged on the base, so while it was much better for heel toeing, it made shoving my size 12s underneath it a bit tricky!

SaintViking. 10 yrs ago, when looking for my previous car, which ended up being a Yeti, I tried a Golf SV and did like it, including the ride which was better than the Yeti (but preferred latter's higher seating position) + I would have had to wait ages for the SV delivery. Also tried a BMW 200 Active Tourer small diesel with sports suspension & low profile tyres - nice looking, but I thought it was a pretty awful car, mainly the ride, bump thump & steering, but the engine was noisy too - however, reviews later said that that was the worst version of the car and best to go for the petrol with highest profile tyres on 17" wheels.

I would be interested to learn how you think the SV compares with the Karoq, particularly for ride & road noise. I half suspect the SV might be a bit better over ridges / broken road surfaces, but don't know.

My wife's SV is a petrol 1.4 tsi manual, and if I'm honest feels more "planted" on the road than my Karoq.

I temper that with the fact that I have changed the wheel/tyre combination on the Karoq for a more supple ride over the local roads.

A trade off I'm happy to live with.

With regards to road noise, the SV is fitted with Falken 310 tyres, which are 67db on 205/55/16, and to be fair its a quiet ride. I know tyres are only part of the equation. The downside is that the rolling resistance is high on the 310's so mpg is good but not the best.

Overall I do like driving the SV, probably too much.

The Continental All Season 2's on the Karoq are 72db, but perhaps down to better cabin design, I find on a good road, its a quiet car too. So a draw in that respect.

I have to say that part of the reason I chose the Karoq, was nothing to do with design/ride/etc, but the fact that the climate control and other features were still knobs and buttons. In fact the same climate switchgear as in my 62 plate Passat estate.

I don't like the change to on screen control, and much prefer the "old fashioned" way.

It was a serious consideration not just a fad.

I am useless on laptop touchpads and always use a wireless mouse, but can't do that whilst driving!!

I guess that makes me a dinosaur, but you know what I don't care!!!!!